Middle South

October, 2000
Regional Report

Recipes

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
As you get ready to carve your pumpkin, don't forget that the seeds make great snacks, so don't throw them out! Kids love to help with this project and their reward is wholesome, crunchy toasted seeds.

Ingredients

pumpkin

vegetable oil

salt

Preparation

Place handfuls of slimy seeds in a large bowl. Fill with cool water and swish around to separate bits of pulp from the seeds. Rinse in a colander, remove remaining pulp, and spread the seeds out on several thicknesses of paper towels (or a clean brown paper grocery bag) to dry.

The next day, when the seeds are dry, dump them into a shallow pan and toss them with vegetable oil (1 teaspoon per cup of dried seeds) and a little salt (about 1/2 teaspoon per cup of dry seeds). Place in a 300F oven and toast for 20 minutes or until very lightly browned, stirring every 5 minutes or so.

One pumpkin makes a few cups of seeds.

Web Finds

Pumpkin Crazy
Planted pumpkin heads are just the beginning. If you want to have the finest jack-o'-lantern you've ever carved, check out the know-how at www.jack-o-lantern.com. Or go natural by decorating an uncut pumpkin with leaves, sticks, and fruit, like you'll see if you stop by http://family.go.com/Categories/Activities/Features/family_1997_10/famf/famf107pumpkin/